THERE YOU GO. WELL, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY WATCHED OR PLANNED TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN THE SKIES THIS WEEK. YEAH, METEOROLOGIST CAITLIN HARVEY BREAKS DOWN THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE DISPLAYS THAT YOU’RE GOING TO SEE. IT’S IN THIS WEATHER NOW EXTRA. 4TH OF JULY IS TOMORROW. BUT OF COURSE, WE’VE HEARD AND SEEN PLENTY OF FIREWORKS OUT IN AND AROUND THE AREA. NOW, WHETHER YOU’RE SHOOTING OFF FIREWORKS OR GOING TO ANY OF OUR AREA DISPLAYS, YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCES IN COLOR ARE ACTUALLY CAUSED BY ELEMENTS. SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BRUSH OFF YOUR PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS FOR THE SCIENCE OF FIREWORKS. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE SCIENCE. SO RED REALLY CAUSED BY STRONTIUM AND ALL OF THESE COLORS CAUSED BY HOW THESE ELEMENTS REACT TO HEAT. AND THEY PRODUCE WHEN BURNED WHITE, ALUMINUM, ORANGE, CALCIUM, SILVER, MAGNESIUM, YELLOW AND GOLD. MY PERSONAL FAVORITE SODIUM. NOW TO GET PURPLE, WE DO HAVE TO COMBINE STRONTIUM AND COPPER. AND THAT’S OF COURSE RED AND BLUE. SO BLUE CAUSED BY COPPER BURNING AND HEATING UP AND GREEN BARIUM. ENJO
What causes fireworks colors? Check out the science behind Fourth of July displays
Updated: 12:11 AM CDT Jul 4, 2024
Millions of people have already watched or plan to watch fireworks in the skies this week. Meteorologist Caitlin Harvey of sister station KETV breaks down the science behind the displays you see. The differences in fireworks’ color are caused by elements. So you might have to brush off your periodic table of elements for the science of fireworks, no matter what your favorite color. It all comes down to the science. Red is caused by strontium and all of the colors are caused by how these elements react to heat and what they produce when burned:White, aluminumOrange, calciumSilver, magnesiumYellow and gold, sodiumNow, to get purple, you have to combine strontium and copper, and that’s, of course, red and blue. Blue is caused by copper burning and heating up and green barium.
Millions of people have already watched or plan to watch fireworks in the skies this week.
Meteorologist Caitlin Harvey of sister station KETV breaks down the science behind the displays you see.
The differences in fireworks’ color are caused by elements.
So you might have to brush off your periodic table of elements for the science of fireworks, no matter what your favorite color.
It all comes down to the science. Red is caused by strontium and all of the colors are caused by how these elements react to heat and what they produce when burned:
- White, aluminum
- Orange, calcium
- Silver, magnesium
- Yellow and gold, sodium
Now, to get purple, you have to combine strontium and copper, and that’s, of course, red and blue.
Blue is caused by copper burning and heating up and green barium.
